it's the middle of may, and 19 mlb pitchers have gone down to Tommy John surgery this season

Its a good thing they keep the pitch counts low. Seriously, it seems arms were healthier when they just went out and threw until they couldn't throw no more!

It's directly because of all the hard throwing being done for years when they are young and growing.

Mentalstate wrote:It's directly because of all the hard throwing being done for years when they are young and growing.

They're all actually 26+, but their visa's say they are 19.

Mentalstate wrote:It's directly because of all the hard throwing being done for years when they are young and growing.

Bingo. Yahtzee. BooYa.

Better than getting Lou Gehrig disease.

Mentalstate wrote:It's directly because of all the hard throwing being done for years when they are young and growing.

Ding ding ding. Guys are so interested in throwing 95+ that they're never learning how to pitch. Also some of these kids have such ugly mechanics that I'm not even remotely surprised when they go down. I saw Martin Perez (Rangers starter) pitch in some exhibition game last year and my first thought was this kid's going to destroy his elbow at some point. Here we are in mid-May and he needs elbow surgery.

Mentalstate wrote:It's directly because of all the hard throwing being done for years when they are young and growing.

That and they're teaching kids how to throw curve balls too early. And those that pick it up faster are more likely to throw a ton of them.

I also think weight training can play a factor. You put too much on too fast, the ligaments simply don't strengthen enough to handle it.

It's worse than that. If you include the minors the number is already approaching 40.

The elevated mound doesn't help either.

Not enough HGH.

Mentalstate wrote:It's directly because of all the hard throwing being done for years when they are young and growing.

I would agree with that assessment. I think some people would be surprised at how many games kids on travel teams play. I saw an 8U team that had a radar gun in use at a tournament this year.

Sounds like American sports are at an all time low.

Most pitchers used to also play SS or outfield when they didn't pitch when they were kids. It kept their arms stronger. Nowadays a lot of young kids do nothing but pitch and never gain as much arm strength as kids did previously.

Do pitchers play winter ball like positional players do?

kingstonlake wrote:Do pitchers play winter ball like positional players do?

I know a lot of the Latino players do.

Spartan Punk wrote:Most pitchers used to also play SS or outfield when they didn't pitch when they were kids. It kept their arms stronger. Nowadays a lot of young kids do nothing but pitch and never gain as much arm strength as kids did previously.

At 15U is when you start to see some PO kids. Some very good 14U teams will have them. Makes it easier if you're playing 6 games in a weekend.

WBill wrote:Better than getting Lou Gehrig disease.

I'd rather cut my dick off than have ALS or anything comparable

Todays pictchers are a bunch of pussies. Back in the 80's, guys threw 8-10 complete games a year. Now, most get taken out after 6 innings. Wimps.

Nommad2 wrote:Todays pictchers are a bunch of pussies. Back in the 80's, guys threw 8-10 complete games a year. Now, most get taken out after 6 innings. Wimps.

Back in the 80's there were only a handful of guys who routinely threw 95+ on the gun. Now almost everyone does it.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10935698/dylan-fosnacht-rochester-high-school-throws-194-pitches-14-innings

Pitchers of the 80s weigh in on today's pitching wusses.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/pitchers-roundtable-the-1980s/

Nommad2 wrote:Pitchers of the 80s weigh in on today's pitching wusses.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/pitchers-roundtable-the-1980s/

I'd take any one of them over Scherzer and his can't pitch late in games routine. It's a tough call which recent Tiger I hate most. Him, Fielder or Sheffield...

Tom Seaver said it's because todays pitchers are drawing all their power from their arm and not the legs.

Any one see Tanaka pitch last night? I love watching his form and he's throwing the fork ball.

Giant Moose wrote:
I'd take any one of them over Scherzer and his can't pitch late in games routine. It's a tough call which recent Tiger I hate most. Him, Fielder or Sheffield...

Seriously? I mean, I get the frustration with not pitching late in games, but to hate him that much? What about Coke or Valverde?